Q: Settle a bet. A friend and I were at a Charlotte establishment where they offered various flavors of Mimosas, strawberry, grapefruit, pineapple, cranberry, etc. I say a Mimosa is a specific cocktail with orange juice. My friend says it’s more of a “style”? Who is correct?
Tom: While originally a specific cocktail of orange juice and champagne, the Mimosa has gone through what I like to call “The Xerox Effect,” where the specific becomes the generic (also see “Band-Aid”). These days, it can refer to any cocktail combining a fruit juice with any sparkling wine. CountryLiving.com lists no less than 40 Mimosa variations — not including the dreaded Beermosa. However, a number of variations do have their own specific names, such as the Bellini (peach) and the Poinsettia (cranberry). I do have to say my “Mimosa” of choice uses pomegranate juice, or better yet, pomegranate juice with a touch of pomegranate liqueur.

Q: Will the duck and dumplings from Dogwood move to another Rare Roots menu?
Tom: I hope so! It’s a great dish. And it would certainly fit easily into the menus of some other Rare Roots Hospitality concepts. We’ve reached out to the Rare Roots team. If we get an answer, we’ll post it here. Personally, Dogwood’s closing next month is hitting me hard.

Q: What’s the latest on The Dumpling Lady’s upcoming LoSo location? 
Tom: Qian Zhang says she’s putting the finishing touches on her new sit-down spot and LoSo diners can expect to get their dumpling fix “in a few more weeks.”